Search Jurupa Valley Unclaimed Property
Jurupa Valley may hold unclaimed money from city checks that were never cashed. Riverside County keeps funds from estates and tax sales. The California State Controller has over $11 billion in unclaimed property from banks, employers, and insurance firms. You can search all three for free with no time limit to claim. No fee to file. Jurupa Valley incorporated in 2011, so most city funds are recent. But the state and county databases go back many years and may have money from when you lived here before the city formed.
Jurupa Valley Quick Facts
City of Jurupa Valley Unclaimed Funds
The City of Jurupa Valley may hold unclaimed money from checks issued to residents, vendors, or businesses. Since the city only incorporated in 2011, its unclaimed funds program is newer than most California cities. But the city still issues checks for refunds, permits, deposits, and other transactions. When these checks go uncashed for six months or more, they become unclaimed.
Contact the Jurupa Valley Finance Department to ask if they hold funds in your name. City hall is at 8930 Limonite Avenue in Jurupa Valley. Call the main number to reach Finance. They will search their records to see if your name appears. If it does, they will tell you what documents to provide. Most city claims need just a photo ID to verify your identity.
Filing a claim with the city is free. No lawyer needed. You prove you are the correct person. The city verifies the payment in its accounting system. Then they issue a replacement check to your current address. This takes a few weeks in most cases for Jurupa Valley residents.
Under Government Code Section 50050, cities must send unclaimed funds to the State Controller after three years. Once transferred, you claim through the state instead of the city. Check both places if you think Jurupa Valley issued a payment to you more than three years ago.
Note: Jurupa Valley is one of California's newest cities, incorporated from parts of unincorporated Riverside County in 2011.
California State Unclaimed Property
The State Controller's Office holds the largest amount of unclaimed money in California. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and investment firms all report dormant accounts to the state. The state keeps these funds until the owner files a claim. No time limit. Funds from 50 years ago can still be claimed today by Jurupa Valley residents.
Search for free at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex by typing your name. You can also search business names or old addresses. The database shows property type and estimated value. Bank accounts, paychecks, stock dividends, insurance proceeds, and safe deposit box contents all appear in results. Most people find between $50 and $500, but some claims are much larger.
Controller Malia M. Cohen oversees the unclaimed property program. Her office receives annual reports from thousands of businesses. They try to contact owners before money transfers to the state. If they cannot reach you, the funds go into the state database. Over 49 million properties sit unclaimed in California. Many belong to Jurupa Valley residents who moved and did not update their address with banks or employers.
To file a claim, visit claimit.ca.gov after finding a match. Many claims can be filed online by uploading ID and proof of address. Simple cash claims take 30 to 60 days to process. Complex claims involving heirs, businesses, or securities take up to 180 days. The state never charges a fee to file or process your claim.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1513, property becomes dormant after specific periods. Bank accounts go dormant after three years. Wages take one year. Money orders need seven years. Traveler's checks require 15 years. Each type has its own timeline before the holder must send it to the state.
Riverside County Unclaimed Money
Jurupa Valley sits in Riverside County. The county Treasurer holds unclaimed money from several sources. Estates of deceased persons with no known heirs are one source. When someone dies without a will or relatives, their assets go to the county. The county tries to locate heirs. If no one comes forward, the money sits in a county account until someone proves they are entitled to claim it.
The county also holds excess proceeds from tax sales. When the county sells property for unpaid taxes and the sale brings in more than the tax debt, the extra money is held for the former owner. Many Jurupa Valley property owners do not know they can claim this. If you lost property to a tax sale, check with Riverside County to see if there are excess funds waiting.
Search Riverside County unclaimed money at countytreasurer.org/unclaimed-money where the county provides an online searchable database. Type your name or address to see if the county holds money for you. The site shows instructions for filing a claim. Call (951) 955-3900 for help with county unclaimed funds in Jurupa Valley.
Government Code Section 50050 governs how counties handle unclaimed money. The law requires public notice before the county can take ownership. Once the county takes it, you can still file a claim but may need more documentation to prove your entitlement. Check county records if you lived in the area before Jurupa Valley incorporated and owned property that was sold for taxes.
The county acquires unclaimed property in accordance with this law. State law allows parties of interest to hire agents to file claims, but you can file directly with the county Treasurer at no cost. Do not pay someone to do something you can do yourself for free.
Common Types of Unclaimed Property
Bank accounts are the most common type. You open an account and use it for a while. Then you switch banks. You forget to close the old one. It sits dormant for three years. The bank sends the balance to the state. This happens all over Jurupa Valley just like everywhere else in California. Savings, checking, and CDs all follow the same rule.
Uncashed paychecks happen when employees leave a job and move without updating their address. The employer mails a final check to the last known address. It comes back undeliverable. The employer holds it for one year. Then they report it to the state per California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1530. Wages are among the fastest types to become unclaimed.
Utility deposits become unclaimed when customers move and forget to request a refund. You close your account with the water or power company. You think they will mail a refund. But they need a forwarding address. Without one, they hold the deposit for three years. Then it goes to the state. Security deposits from landlords work the same way if the landlord cannot return it due to a bad address.
Life insurance policies go unclaimed when beneficiaries do not know a policy exists. The insured person dies. The insurance company tries to locate the beneficiary. If they cannot find them, the proceeds go to the state. Some Jurupa Valley residents have inherited money from relatives but never knew about it. Stock dividends, bond interest, and mutual fund distributions also become unclaimed when checks go to old addresses.
Safe deposit box contents generate unclaimed property too. When a renter stops paying rent and cannot be found, the bank opens the box. They sell the contents and send the cash to the state in the renter's name. The state then holds it until the owner files a claim.
Filing Claims from Jurupa Valley
For city funds, contact Jurupa Valley Finance to ask if they hold money in your name. They will search their records. If they find a match, they will tell you what to do next. Usually, you just need to show ID. The city verifies the payment. Then they issue a new check to your current address. No fee involved for Jurupa Valley residents.
For state funds, start at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex to search your name. When you find a match, click on it to see details. Then go to claimit.ca.gov to file the claim online. You will upload a photo ID and proof of address. Some claims need more documents depending on the property type and value.
If the claim is worth $1,000 or more, you must get your signature notarized. Claims for securities, stocks, or safe deposit boxes always require a notary no matter the value. The state sends specific instructions after you start the claim. Follow them carefully to avoid delays in processing your claim from Jurupa Valley.
For Riverside County funds, search at countytreasurer.org/unclaimed-money to see if your name appears. If it does, follow the instructions on the site or call (951) 955-3900 for guidance. County staff can tell you what forms and documents to provide. Most county claims take a few weeks to process once you submit everything.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1540, the State Controller has 180 days to decide on claims. Most get approved faster. If denied, you can appeal or provide additional proof. The state does not pay interest on unclaimed property, so you receive the original amount that was turned over by the holder.
Other Unclaimed Money Sources
Some unclaimed money does not go through the State Controller. Retirement benefits stay with the retirement system. If you worked for a California public agency and left money in a retirement account, check CalPERS for unclaimed property. Teachers should check CalSTRS if they did not claim a pension or refund.
Tax refunds can become unclaimed too. The California Franchise Tax Board holds state tax refunds that were never cashed. Call (800) 852-5711 if you filed a return and expected a refund but never received it. Federal refunds are separate. Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit irs.gov for help with federal tax refunds.
Life insurance policies may be unclaimed if beneficiaries do not know they exist. Use the national Life Insurance Policy Locator at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator to search for policies of deceased relatives. This service is free and covers all insurance companies. The California Department of Insurance also provides resources for finding policies.
Unemployment and disability benefits sometimes go unclaimed when EDD issues a payment but the recipient moves or changes banks. You can file form DE 903SD to claim old EDD payments. Download it from the EDD website or call 1-800-300-5616 for unemployment or 1-800-480-3287 for disability. No fee to file for old benefits from Jurupa Valley addresses.
Avoid Unclaimed Money Scams
Scammers target people who search for unclaimed money. They send emails or letters claiming you have a large sum waiting. Then they ask for a fee or personal information. The State Controller never charges a fee to claim unclaimed property. The city and county do not charge either. If someone asks for money upfront, it is a scam.
Asset locators are legal in California. They find unclaimed money and contact the owner. They can charge up to 10 percent of the value under state law. But they must have a signed written contract before collecting. You do not need to hire anyone. You can search and file claims yourself for free from Jurupa Valley.
Some firms offer to search for you for a flat fee. This is not needed. The state database at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex is free and open to everyone. You can search in minutes without paying. Do not pay for something you can do yourself.
Never give out your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card to someone who contacts you about unclaimed property. Legitimate agencies do not ask for payment details when you file a claim. They send you a check after approval. Protect your information. Report suspected fraud to the California Attorney General at (800) 952-5225.
Riverside County Unclaimed Money
Jurupa Valley is in Riverside County. The county holds unclaimed funds from estates and excess proceeds from tax sales. For complete details on county programs, searchable databases, and claim procedures, visit the Riverside County unclaimed money page.